Strongest Manchester City line-up to face Arsenal

After an astonishing comeback win against reigning Champions League winners Bayern Munich at their own den, a confident Manchester City outfit take the field at Etihad Stadium on Saturday against current Premier League toppers Arsenal. Both of the English clubs have reached the last sixteen of the Champions League, however both finished their group commitments in exactly opposite manner.

While Arsenal were given a huge scare by Rafa Benitez’s Napoli at the Sao Paolo Stadium in Italy, the Citizens produced perhaps their best game of the campaign to upset the Bavarians at the Allianz Arena.

James Milner netted the winner for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and claimed that the Citizens are not afraid of the seeded teams in the last sixteen of the Champions League. Coming to the game, it will undoubtedly be the clash of the weekend against two high flying teams in the Premier League. Arsenal’s last league match ended in a draw against Everton at the Emirates, a clash which will forever be etched in the memory of fans for the manner in which the goals were scored.

The first one by a player who cost millions from real Madrid and the equaliser by the young gun borrowed from Barcelona. Coming into the match, the Citizens lie fourth in the table, six behind the Gunners and have a real chance of reducing the gap to just three if they bag all three points.

So what would City’s strongest line up be against the Gunners?

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Goalkeeping Conundrum: It is perhaps time to give England number Joe Hart a game in a clash where he just might show his mettle coming up against the feisty Gunners. Costel Pantilimon is expected to be under the sticks manning the goal for the home side, but this is a clash in which Pellegrini can ill afford to make a mistake.

Defence: As Rafa Benitez’s tactics showed in Naples, Arsenal can be very well stretched at their backline, I expect Pellegrini to field Kolarov and Zabaleta higher up the field and advise them to got toe to toe against the opposing link up men in the wide to terrorise the Arsenal defence. In the heart of the defence Vincent Kompany will perhaps be fielded with Argentine Martin Demichelis to control Arsenal’s attacking prowess.

Midfield: Saturday’s match promises to be an absolute stellar of an encounter, given both side’s enviable midfield in the middle of the park. City will start with the heavyweights Yaya Toure and Fernandiho as the double pivot with David Silva and James Milner as the two link up wide men. While Silva lasted for seventy minutes in Germany, James Milner has more than a case for himself like Samir Nasri to warrant a staring eleven spot. As the game goes on, maybe Jesus Navas will be called on by Pellegrini, if in order to give Arsenal’s defence something different to offer.

Striking Partnership: It takes two to tango, doesn’t it? City’s best chance to beat Arsenal will be to employ both Aguero and Negredo up front against the likes of Mertesacker and Koscielny. While Aguero’s finishing has been top notch, Negredo has also shown he is no pushover either.

Going for predictions and current form, I expect City to recover faster than Arsenal, both of whom had long travels in midweek. Arsenal’s defence have looked wobbly at times, while City after beating Bayern are on cloud nine, so I have a case for myself if I go for a 3-1 City win come Saturday.